News
Freight Rail Workshop Report
Image source: National Freight Rail Capacity and Investment Study
September 2007
Move Colorado is currently engaged in a strategic planning effort to look ahead at the next 3-5 years, identifying the key issues and opportunities to keep a strong transportation agenda moving forward. On April 8, 2011, Move Colorado hosted the Multi Modal Freight Rail Workshop when industry representatives and workshop participants were challenged to address how freight rail issues will impact and challenge Colorado and how they will be addressed. Industry representatives kicked-off the discussion: Peter Rickershauser, BNSF; Michael Ogborn, Managing Director, OmniTRAX; Jim Nadalini, Public Private Partnerships, BNSF; and Dick Hartman, Public Affrairs, Union Pacific Railroad. Bob Sakaguchi, Jacobs Engineering and Elena Wilken, CASTA lead the Workshop with assists from facilitators Randy Grauberger, Parsons Brinkerhoff, and Randy Harrison, Move Colorado – 40 participants worked through the issue/action dialogue and discussion format. Four main themes and action items are summarized below:
Key Multi-Modal Freight Initiatives
The CDOT Division of Transit and Rail has initiated a Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan as required by Federal legislation to qualify for federal funding. The State Rail Plan will integrate the passenger and freight rail elements into the larger multi-modal and intermodal framework with a 30 year time horizon to be incorporated into the State Transportation Plan. The process will include stakeholder outreach, guidance by a steering committee, and will create a Vision of Rail in Colorado. The Move Colorado Workshop focused on issues and opportunities. Moving the issues to action and resolve should be included in the Rail Plan process.
In terms of Move Colorado’s strategic plan, the State Rail Plan will identify potential investment opportunities, and a long range service and investment program. The plan will provide a basis for future investments, but a key theme of the workshop will need to be addressed in the plan - what are the opportunities for public private partnerships, particularly at the local level, to meet freight rail infrastructure needs, and provide a framework for local economic development? Should this be addressed now, particularly with the new High Performance Transportation Enterprise and the current planning process initiated by the Governor as the county based Economic Development Plan for Colorado? Can this process be accelerated and coordinated?
Infrastructure Investment: The current freight rail network is limited in Colorado and cannot handle the projected growth – national demand for freight capacity is projected to outstrip current infrastructure. Public private partnerships will be necessary to realize the benefits of freight rail.
Regulation: Regulation is a key issue for freight at the federal and state level. There are multiple agencies involved in the regulatory process and issues at all levels to be addressed.
Economic Development and Community Impact: Local planning and zoning along rail corridors is an issue both as a potential constraint/obstacle and an opportunity for economic development – the new energy economy for example. Greater cooperation and partnerships should be pursued.
Planning: Better integration of freight issues into the planning process is needed. The State Rail Plan offers us that opportunity to get that done in Colorado’s Transportation Plan and future investments. Local planning needs attention, vision, less friction and more support.
Multi Modal Roundtable Summary
On August 29, 2010, Move Colorado hosted the Multi Modal Roundtable, to track new and on-going transit initiatives and chart the future – what needs to get accomplished to keep Colorado’s “multi modal agenda” moving forward? Panelists were Phil Washington of RTD, Harry Dale of the Rocky Mountain Rail Alliance, Jennifer Finch of CDOT, and Jennifer Schaufele of DRCOG. Panel co-conveners were Elena Wilken of CASTA and Rick Pilgrim of Move Colorado. Four main themes emerged, primarily in response to funding issues:
Regionalism: The Denver Metro area already enjoys a reputation as a well-coordinated region among federal interests in Washington, D. C., and there was strong agreement that Colorado must leverage this reputation in order to compete for federal funding. Further, regionalism must expand to our western neighboring states if the desire to build a high speed rail network is to be realized.
Implement and Complete Current Initiatives: FasTracks and FASTER programs must be carried out successfully in order to protect future programming and funding opportunities. The new Division of Transit and Rail within CDOT must complete a statewide rail plan and the high speed rail connectivity study in order for Colorado to compete for federal rail funding in the future. Noting that there are 6 strategic “7th Pot” projects that are still unfunded, the State must preserve and make the best use of existing resources.
Collaboration: Transportation must collaborate with non-traditional partners in housing and the environment in the pursuit of federal grants. The emphasis must be on building sustainable communities by incorporating workforce and economic development efforts. Governments, private businesses and non-profit interests will be required to work together so that different finance programs are coordinated and not splintered by competition.
Marketing and Communication: Colorado must present a unified front and voice in selling the vision for sustainable metropolitan regions and livable communities. Not only must this be done for federal interests in Washington, but also to build awareness and understanding among Colorado citizens about how the infrastructure that supports our daily lives is financed and delivered. Colorado must presentitself as a well-coordinated, common ground
entity in order to be competitive with larger, more populous states.
Actions to address these themes will be considered as part of the Move Colorado strategic plan to fund a multi-modal transportation system. The 3-5 year Strategic Plan will address the need to increase funding for transportation in Colorado by $1.5 Billion annually. This will require a statewide ballot measure, regional and local financing initiatives.
